New Touchscreen Console

Guitar Center has announced that the new RAVEN MTi touchscreen console from Slate Media Technology is available for preorder exclusively through Guitar Center, GC Pro and Musician's Friend. They say that, based on the company's flagship RAVEN MTX Multi-Touch Production Console, the RAVEN MTi is an intuitive, streamlined console designed for any modern creative audio environment.

Steven Slate, CEO, Slate Media Technology, told us, "In the modern recording studio, the multitrack recorder, mixer, FX rack, editor, and mix-down deck all sit inside of a computer screen. The RAVEN turns the computer screen into a world-class control surface, recreating a proven studio workflow that dramatically increases efficiency during the production process."

Here's more details in Slate Media Technology's own words...

The RAVEN MTi is cutting-edge hardware that integrates directly with the Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), allowing for instantaneous control of all of the user's DAW parameters. The console facilitates quick navigation through any virtual production environment and adds many workflow-enhancing features through its user-customizable controls. Imagine turning your DAW mixer into a multitouch controller or editing your audio with a single touch... the RAVEN is capable of this and more! The MTI works with a variety of plugins, allowing you to control the parameters directly on the screen with your fingers. Because the MTi is a virtual control surface, its expandability is virtually limitless.

The RAVEN MTi sells for $2,499 in the USA and features a sleek 27-inch, six-touch multitouch display with Integrated-Direct-Touch DAW controller software. The RAVEN MTi currently supports AVID Pro Tools 10 and 11, and will soon offer compatibility with other major DAWs and video editors including Logic®, Cubase®/Nuendo®, Ableton® Live, Final Cut Pro®, and Adobe Premiere®. The MTi ships with Mac OSX compatibility – PC compatibility will be added in the near future with a simple software update.

The RAVEN MTi connects to a computer simply using one standard DVI cable and one USB 2.0 port. The MTi uses the RAVEN Protocol, which connects to the DAW via the industry-standard NeyFi protocol – no Ethernet or MIDI is required. The RAVEN MTi's display is high-definition at 1920x1080 pixels and is LED-backlit, which means it consumes very little power, produces little heat, and emits less electromagnetic interference than other displays. The display image is clear with wide viewing angles, and the brightness controls make it easy to set up for any studio environment.

About Slate Media TechnologyBased in Los Angeles, California, Slate Media Technology develops innovative, no-compromise products, for media creators. Slate is a pioneer of advanced digital technology that enhances workflow, efficiency and creativity.About Guitar CenterGuitar Center is the world's largest retailer of guitars, amplifiers, drums, keyboards, recording, live sound, DJ, and lighting equipment. Our retail store subsidiary presently operates more than 250 Guitar Center stores across the U.S. We are also the largest direct response retailer of musical instruments in the United States through our wholly owned subsidiary, Musician's Friend, Inc., and its catalog and website, www.musiciansfriend.com. In addition, our Music & Arts division operates more than 100 stores specializing in band and orchestra instrument sales and rental, serving teachers, band directors, college professors and students. More information on Guitar Center can be found by visiting the company's website at www.guitarcenter.com.

Did the developers actually test this in a typical project studio environment? Seriously - where is that going to fit in any current (but active) project studio tight for space or optimised for DAW based work? Cannot see thiis fitting in.

And, any studio with the mixer room space will surely not go for this.

Furthermore, the price is outrageous. Apple have just released an exquisite iPad controller for LogicPro - for free.

Overall, I simply cannot see the market for this overpriced product from a start up company with no reputation and likely no longevity.

They need to repackage this technology and sell it as a Table App for a few bucks, and attempt to sell lots of them.